We cannot adopt a world view with somehow giving up God’s view. We even see some “christian” pastors coming out saying that the church needs to adopt a world view.
“Adulterous people” is a reference to spouses cheating on one another. God sees us as cheating on him if we begin to accept the world’s view on moral and social principles. When we think that a world’s way of doing something is better, we become an enemy and show hatred towards God.
We see that the world is in the process of being “self” defined: Self-sufficient, self-directed, and self-centered. The world is actively trying to define itself separate from God.
The use of friend in this passage has a underline meaning of a group with common interests. “Philia” used in Philadelphia meaning the “city of brotherly love”.
God has sent his spirit indwell in us and for us to be humble and accept his truth. Because if it is the truth, there cannot be any other “truth” given by the world that.
We have to stake a hard look at the people around us. And if we see someone who is in love with the world, we must believe that they do not have the love of the Father in them. For anything that goes against the Word of God, comes from the world. When we start defining our life principles apart from God’s word, we begin to become lost.
God’s standard does not change. It stands through the ages even as worldviews come and go.
As we begin to go out to the world and want to address the world, we cannot begin by asking how we can please them. We need to start by saying, “What does it mean to be His, for me and the world?”
We don’t say that those in the world are too far gone. We present them the truth of the Gospel. For it is love to show them the truth of God’s word, and it is not love to let the continue without someone to be involved in their lives to present and demonstrate God’s love through salvation.
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (ESV)
5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (ESV)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)